Cam for shovels



Feb. 14, 1950 w. HIRST 2,497,771

CAM FOR SHOVELS Filed Oct. 3 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

waits? Hirst ATI'CI R N EYS Feb. 14, 1950 w. HIRST 2,497,171

CAM FOR SHOVELS Filed Oct. 3, 1947 2 Sheets Sheet 2 IDJVIHVIYDLL 4Walter Hirst ATT'D R N EYS tion or opening to be formed in Patented Feb.14, 19513 OFFICE 2,497,771 CAM FOR sHovELs Walter Hirst, Cranston, R. I.ApplicationQctober 3, 1947, Serial No. 777,781

2 Claims.

This invention relatesto a fulcrum attachment for shovels.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fulcrum attachmentadapted for use on a shovel which is light in weight and upon which theshovel will be supported when effecting the removal of the dirt from anopening being formed in the ground by the shovel and whereby the removalof the shovel from the ground with the dirt is facilitated and wherebyit will be unnecessary for the user of the shovel to stoop to effect theinitial removal of the dirt from the opening.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a fulcrumattachment for shovels which is of a simple construction, made of aminimum number of parts, inexpensive to manufacture, and efficient inoperation.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing detailed de scription taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is the side elevation or view of the fulcrum attachment andwith the shovel extended downwardly into the ground before any movementof the shovel has been made to remove the dirt from the opening;

Figure 2 is a Side elevational view of the attachment and of the shovelafter the shovel has been pivoted on the attachment and lifted to alocation to elevate the dirt out of the open 1% Figure 3 is a sideelevational view of the attachment and of the shovel when the shovel hasbeen extended to the opposite side of the opening to discharge the dirtthereupon;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the fu1- crum attachment with theshovel elevated to a point above the opening as when the dirt on theshovel is to be removed to a more distant location from the opening;

Figure 5 is the enlarged cross-sectional view, elevation of theattachment and as viewed on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an. enlarged fragmentary view of the fulcrum attachment andlooking in plan into the socket opening into which the shovel is fittedand Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of the device as appliedto a single fork.

Referring now to the figures, l0 represents a frame having foot portionsI l thereon adapted to engage with the ground surface above a locatheground. This frame H) extends upwardly and forwardly so that (Cl.254--l31.5)

its top may overhang to some extent an vopening l2 in the ground to bemade free of dirt. On the upper end of the frame there is pivoted an armI3, having a socket formation Hi adapted to receive and support thelower end of a shovel handle l5 and dirt-engaging portion l6 thereon.This arm is turned up at the outer end to better accommodate the shovel.The arm i3 is formed of two parts, each of said parts includes a portionof the socket. The parts are connected together by bolts I 8 whereby toprovide good clamping engagement with the shovel handle. The separableparts of the arm l3 are connected as indicated at 19 by a pivot bolt 2|at the top of the support It. An car 22 extends from one part of the armand to this car is connected a tension spring 23 which is anchored at anear projection 24 on the support It so as to normally return the arm l3and retain it in its lowered position.

In operation, the shovel is first thrust into the ground as shown inFigure 1, and both feet portions H will be located on the groundsurface. The handle l5 will extend forwardly but as the same is drawnrearwardly, the portion l6 will lift dirt 26 from the opening 12. Ifduring this operation, some slight pressure is maintained on the top ofthe portion t6, the action described will be more complete in itsoperation. The arm 13 will be extended forwardly against the action ofthe spring 23. This motion will have been effected by merely pivotingthe bolt on the upper end of the same and avoids having to stoop to liftthe shovel. As soon as the shovel portion it with the dirt 26 has beenextended above the far edge of the opening l2, it can be pushedforwardly to discharge its load of dirt. Therefore, the support 111will. pivot on the forward foot portion in the manner, as shown inFigure 3. If it is desired to remove the dirt to a location other thanto the immediate opposite side of the opening l2, the shovel can beraised to a greater extent as shown in Figure 4 and lifted with theattachment to locate the dirt at the more distant location. When theshovel with the attachment is lifted from the ground, the support itwill be brought into engagement with the arm l3 and through the arm theattachment will be retained on the shovel. The attachment is preferablyformed of light weight aluminum so that it adds little weight to theshovel.

While the invention has been specifically applied to a shovel, it ispossible to use the device with a single fork 21, as shown in Figure 7.The fork 21, in this instance, has a handle 28 which is similar inconfiguration to the handle 15 of the shovel l6. Some forks are notprovided with this'form of handle and cannot be successfully used withthe device, but single forks of the nature shown in Figure '7 can besuccessfully used as desired.

Thus this invention can be applied to forks or shovels, providing thehandles are similarly formed. I j.

While various changes may .be made in the detailed construction, itshall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit andscope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fulcrum attachment for a shovel and the like comprising an uprightsupport having portionsadapted to engage with the ground surface, an armpivotally connected to the upper end of the support for fore and aftswinging movement,

said arm having been adapted to receive and re- ;in its retracted orrearward "tension means eiitendslbetween the arin "and support tonormally retain the arm on the support position.

WALTER HIRST.

. l 1 REFERENCES CITED The f oll owing references are of record in thefile of this'patent 'f" FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France July 16,1923 Number 560,616

